Van Avermaet Set for First Monument of the Season

After racing at Tirreno-Adriatico, Greg Van Avermaet will remain on Italian soil and return to the start line of Milan-San Remo this Saturday, 17 March.

With ten editions behind him, including two top ten finishes in 2011 and 2016, Van Avermaet is motivated to stand on the podium at the first Monument of the 2018 season.

BMC Racing Team Sports Director Maximilan Sciandri said Van Avermaet will be backed by an experienced team, including 2012 winner Simon Gerrans.

"Although we have Greg Van Avermaet as our leader, Milan-San Remo is not a race where we go in as the outright favorite team. However, some sprinters are out of the race so that could change the dynamics a little bit and as usual, we will be going there with the whole team around Greg. Greg has tested himself on a couple of occasions at Tirreno-Adriatico and his condition looks good. I think he is on a good and healthy build-up to Milan-San Remo."

"We are going in with a really experienced team with riders like Simon Gerrans, a former winner here, and Jürgen Roelandts. I think it is maybe one of the strongest teams we have ever had around Greg and we will just have to play our cards in the right way on Saturday.”

Van Avermaet is confident in his form coming out of Tirreno-Adriatico.

“I feel pretty good after Tirreno-Adriatico. My shape is good and I’m looking forward to starting the one-day races which are my specialty. I think Milan-San Remo is a lottery but I am always motivated for a nice result there. It’s a hard race but I am always there in the right moves and in the final so I hope I can achieve a good result this Saturday,” Van Avermaet said.